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TWO men arrested in connection with burglary and theft have been released on police bail.

The pair, aged 39 and 30, were arrested in connection with a burglary at a house on Undergreens Road, Barrow, at the end of May and the theft of memorial plaques from the town's Thorncliffe Cemetery over the bank holiday weekend.

They have been released on bail until Wednesday June 27.

A total of 121 memorial plaques, most of which marked the respects of people who died in the mid 1960s through to the very early 70s, have been recovered by police.

The majority are undamaged but two have been damaged beyond repair.

Detective Sergeant, Mike Wallace, said: “Whilst we are aware of the names on individual plaques that have been recovered, anyone who has concerns about their loved one’s plaque is asked to contact Thorncliffe Crematorium to assist the ongoing investigation.

“The memorial plaques were all stolen from Thorncliffe Crematorium and are mixture of copper plating and lead.

"We believe that the motive behind this heartless theft was the scrap metal value that these may have fetched.

"Fortunately, we have recovered them before the majority have been damaged.

“We have also recovered a larger metal plaque depicting a sailing ship that we suspect is stolen and are trying to trace its owner.

"There is a possibility that this has also been stolen from the crematorium but this has not yet been confirmed.

"If you have information about this plaque that can help us, please get in touch."

Police are appealing for anyone who visited the cemetery over the bank holiday weekend or who saw any suspicious people or vehicles in or around the area to contact Barrow CID on 101.

Their investigation into the burglary at Undergreens Road, which happened between 8am on Wednesday May 30 and 4am on Thursday May 31, is also ongoing and officers are supporting the elderly woman affected.

Police are keen to trace the following items that were stolen during the burglary:

Have your say

Name, shame and make their punishment fit the crime. Make them undertake some hard physical work cleaning up our Cemetery grounds perhaps repairing, under supervision, the damage other vandals have cause to memorials there. The sooner the legislation that says scrap metal dealers may not pay cash is enacted the better. Prejudice perhaps as an older person but many of my fellow pensioners will agree with the sentiment

Posted by Margie Arts on
10 June 2012 at 14:32

i was going to post info i had received from cemetary manager who said it was section 38 plaques stolen --poeople who died in the 1960 's but after reading a lady who died last year has also gone can it be just too much to get the right information? as if it is fact my parents plaque has been removed watch this space as the matter WILL NOT end in court as i am totally unhappy--magistrates court here i come all 6 feet 5 and 18 stone ex marines !!!!!!